Makeup Review | MERIT Beauty The Eye Set

 

MERIT contacted me a couple of months ago to ask if I’d like to try their eye set and after hearing such good things about their line it was a no brainer! To give a short introduction, MERIT is a clean, vegan, cruelty free and luxury beauty brand inspired by minimalism. They were founded by Katherine Power (also the founder of Versed) in 2021 and are based out of Los Angeles, California with the products being made in the U.S., South Korea, China and Italy. I received The Eye Set* which includes everything in this post and retails for $129 CAD | £102 | £94 USD. You also get the signature bag with your first order! 

 

The Eye Set includes the Solo Shadow in Vachetta ($33 CAD | £26 | £24 USD individually). This is a single, cream to powder eye shadow with a matte formula in a beautiful neutral shade with Vachetta being described as a warm beige. The formula can be applied either with your finger or a brush and the Brush No.2 ($27 CAD | £22 | $20 USD individually) is the perfect size, soft (vegan bristles) and dual ended so great for applying all over the lid or lash lining. The shadow itself is buildable so you can blend it out more to have a subtle hint of colour or add more drama if you layer it. It’s nicely pigmented and very easy to blend and hasn’t caused me any irritation and is safe for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers! I will say though that I have very oily lids so there is not much colour left on mine by the end of the day whether I use a primer or not. In its defence, it fades very evenly but it’s not quite as longwearing as I was hoping for or expecting! 

 

MERIT Solo Shadow in Vachetta (unedited)

Moving to brows next and the Brow 1980 Volumizing Pomade ($33 CAD | £26 | $24 USD individually) has fit into my brow routine very nicely. I find when I keep on top of dying my brows I don’t need to pay so much time in the morning ‘doing them’ so this has been perfect to quickly brush through to fill any sparce gaps and give some volume and hold! I have the shade brown and it leaves my brows looking natural yet groomed and the formula isn’t flaky or crispy. There is only 2.4g of product though so this one definitely feels pricier than the other products based on that!

 

Lastly, and in my opinion the star of the show – the Clean Lash Lengthening Mascara ($36 CAD | £28 | $26 USD individually). This is a tubing mascara and oh my god have I been missing out. I have watery eyes and usually go for waterproof mascaras which still usually smudge halfway through the day. Not with this! The bristles make it easy to coat my lashes and it works well to lengthen. There are no clumps or flakes and definitely no smudging as the day goes on! Although this doesn’t give as much volume as some mascaras, I am a convert! I took this on my recent holiday to Mexico too and like I said, I am so impressed by the zero smudging or flaking! I still use my usual Nivea bi-phase eye makeup remover with this which works great!

 

Let’s also take a minute to talk about the packaging – I am in love! It feels weighty and so luxurious, I love the black and gold! The Solo Shadow also has a very satisfying extra click to it to make sure you have screwed it closed tightly enough. These are on the pricier side and I was hoping for a little more lasting power with the Solo Shadow but there is no doubt these are beautiful products and I will definitely be taking a look at their blush and lip oil next! 

 

Have you tried MERIT before? Or what’s on your wish list?

 

*denotes a PR sample that was sent to me.

All opinions are my own. Affiliate links used.

See my full disclosure here.

 

Danielle xx

 

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Five Things I’m Loving | January 2017

I’ve mentioned on Instagram a couple of times recently but I’m currently attempting a ‘try not to buy’ rather than a full spending ban (I’d be sure to cave if that was the case!). With that in mind, I think posts like this will be cropping up a lot more as I get around to actually using the products I already have rather than buying new things I don’t need! It’s pretty makeup heavy this time round but here’s what I’m loving at the minute!

NYX Slide on, Glide on, Stay on and Definitely a Turn on Waterproof Colour Lip Liner in Nude Suede Shoes £5.50

Ridiculously long name aside, this is an amazing lip liner! I first saw it featured on Havanna’s YouTube channel and I ordered it soon after because it looked a lot like Charlotte Tilbury Pillowtalk lipliner to me! While it’s not quite the same, I love this in its own right! Like the full title says, it's creamy, applies easily and sticks around for a decent amount of time! Nude Suede Shoes is a beautiful pinky nude that goes with so many of my lipsticks and I love it with CT Bitch Perfect. The formula is gorgeous and I definitely want to get my hands on a few more of these!

Swatches l-r: Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Pillowtalk, NYX Nude Suede Shoes

Soap and Glory Archery Brow Tint and Pencil in the shade Brownie Points £10

Although the Archery 2 in 1 brush and pencil seems to get most of the attention where S&G brow products are concerned, there is something special about this one that keeps me coming back! It has a fine felt tip end and a screw up pencil on the other. I like to go in first with the felt tip end to build up more colour with some fine strokes then go over my brows with the pencil to add more shape. I always store this in a tub with the tint at the bottom to keep it moist so the colour doesn’t run out as quick! The pencil side is slightly thicker than the Archery 2 in 1 and feels a little waxier so helps to set hairs in place too. Overall, the lasting result is a natural, full brow and it’s made me want to explore brow markers a bit more as I love the result! See my review of some of Soap and Glory’s brow range here!

Laura Mercier Foundation Primer

This is the second tube of this I have gone through and it’s such a lovely primer! I got both in beauty boxes ages ago but I’ve only recently opened this up and fallen back in love with it! It has a lightweight gel/cream texture, sinks in quickly, feels hydrating but doesn’t make my oily skin oilier and its smoothing without having a silicone ‘slip’. I did notice with my first tube that the quality of this went downhill the longer I had it open and it does have a 6-month expiry date so I’ll be trying to stick to that because it does such a good job of extending the wear of my foundation and making it look fresher for longer!

Vincent Longo Water Canvas Creme-to-Powder Blush in Swan Lake* RRP £33.50

I have been appreciating this so much more now its Winter and my skin is more dehydrated than usual! This has the most beautiful, unique crème to powder formula and feels amazing on the skin – it’s so cooling and refreshing! I like to use a Zoeva Cream Cheek brush to apply which makes it easy to build up the pigment. Swan Lake is a lovely natural pink shade with a slight silver shimmer and it lasts all day on my combo skin giving a healthy flush of colour! Its oil free, fragrance free, non-comedogenic, hypoallergenic and cruelty free and though its more expensive than my usual blushes (not counting my Hourglass palette!) it’s well worth the money as it’s so long-lasting and I barely have to touch the product to get payoff! I love this on my oily/combo skin so I can imagine those with drier skins would fall in love with it too!

Seventeen Miracle Matte Oil Free Loose Powder £5.49

A few months ago, I went on a powder buying session because my skin was getting too used to my beloved No7 Perfect Light pressed powder and I ended up buying this from their baby sister brand. Now I’m not the biggest fan of loose powder as it’s so much messier but I’m a convert for this stuff! It’s a very lightweight powder that doesn’t add any extra colour to my face, it just makes my makeup look better! I still get a bit of shine round my nose at about lunch time which is common for me but with this I can just add some more powder and it doesn’t look like my foundation is separating or rubbing off! It’s such a great price too and I have a feeling it will last me ages!

So, there’s my round up of my current favourites! Have you tried any of them? Tell me what you’re loving at the minute!

*denotes a PR sample that was sent to me. All opinions are my own.

Danielle xx

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Soap and Glory Newbies and First Impressions

I've had the photos taken for this post for what seems like months but just haven’t got around to writing it up! I was so excited to see what Soap and Glory would come up with when they had a few new releases recently but have to say I wasn’t as blown away as I thought I would be and only picked up a few things! Most of these aren’t even that new anymore but anyway here are my two cents!

If you’ve read my posts on the Soap and Glory Kick Ass Concealer or their brow product’s before you will know I love the brand and am a little obsessed with their makeup! Along with another new brow product to add to my ever growing collection, I picked up a few of their new Soap and Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Matte Lip in Pretty Muted and Berry Much (£3.50). Being a big fan of the original gloss sticks, I couldn’t wait to try these matte versions at only £3.50! My lips get dry very quickly so I wasn’t expecting too much but was pleasantly surprised at how comfortable and non-drying these feel! They are super creamy and long lasting and I’m really impressed! Pretty Muted was more pink than I was expecting as I thought it would be more mauve in tone and Berry Much is purple not berry which was a little disappointing for me but the formula is gorgeous! Pretty Muted wears off so well too and doesn’t leave a line round my lips and I know I’ll get so much wear out of this!

The Soap and Glory Brow Putty Dip Pot and Brush in Dark Chocolate (£10) is an innovative little product that comes with an angled brush on one end and a screw pot on the other end with product in. Now, while this is handy for on the go it is also a slight nuisance as the pot is so narrow and both the casing and product are so dark it makes it difficult to see what how much you are putting on the brush. There is also nowhere to take off excess product without making a mess on the side of the screw cap so it ends up being my hand that gets messy! Once you get over this the product inside is lovely, it’s a great colour for my brows and very easily blended into my brows for a natural but defined look that is easily buildable depending on how dark you want your brows!

Have you tried any of the newbies to the collection? I can’t wait for the new lipsticks!

Danielle xx

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Which Soap and Glory Brow Product is for you?

Hi everyone! I have a brow centric post for you today! When I posted my last Boots haul after purchasing the newest brow product Soap and Glory have brought out, it dawned on me that I now own all of the brow products Soap and Glory sell so I thought I'd put together this post!

Soap and Glory Arch de Triumph Eyebrow Shaper and Highlighter Shade Taupe/Buff £9

This was one of the first Soap and Glory products I ever owned and I got through quite a bit of the brow side before moving onto better things. I only still have this due to nostalgia I don't actually use it anymore as I have always found the colour pay off of the brow side quite weak unfortunately! The highlight side is a lot softer and easier to get some payoff though and it’s a lovely matte pink champagne shade I need to get more use out of! I think this pencil is best for those brows that don’t need much filling in or people who have quite light brows already! Wouldn’t repurchase this one!

Soap and Glory Archery Brow Tint and Pencil in the shade Brownie Points £10

This was my second foray into S and G’s brow offerings and the first one I stayed loyal to by repurchasing! It has a fine brush a bit like an eyeliner at one end and a screw up pencil on the other. I like to go in first with the brush to build up some colour with some hair like strokes then go over them with the pencil to add more shape. By storing this pencil with the tint at the bottom in it keeps it moist so the colour doesn’t run out as quick!  The pencil side is slightly thicker than the next pencil I’m going to talk about but the overall effect is a really natural brow as neither the tint or the pencil are overly pigmented! Love this one!

Soap and Glory Archery 2 in 1 Brow Filling Pencil and Brush in the shade Hot Chocolate £8

This is probably the brow product I get most use out of as it is just fool proof! It was a different story when I first used it though, I hated and thought it was too red toned and made my brows look too drawn on. After abandoning it for months I picked it up again, with a lighter hand this time, and its love now! The pencil itself is a super skinny retractable pencil that is really easy to control because it's so narrow and at the other end is a handy spoolie to brush brows into place! The spoolie does get covered in makeup very easily but it’s also really easy to wash and dries quickly. The pencil end has a screw up mechanism with a really fine soft pencil that is very pigmented and easy to do natural hair like strokes with.

This is my favourite pencil for when I am in a rush as I don't have to be too precise and it really makes my brows look so defined and polished. It has lasted me ages too! Will definitely repurchase although I am looking forward to finishing this as it feels a bit never-ending!

Soap and Glory Archery D-I-Y Brow Bar £12

This little kit is the same shape and size of the S and G powders and holds two brow powders in the shades Love is Blonde and Hot Chocolate, a transparent setting wax and a pearly shimmer highlight. It comes with a little mini spoolie and a mini brush as well as a mirror although I prefer to use a Zoeva wing liner brush for this! I like to mix the two brow powders together to get the best match for my brow colour as the shade Hot Chocolate itself can come off a little too warm for me but together they are perfect! This is a lovely little kit for shaping and defining brows and the highlight is a nice touch but I get just as much use out of my Beauty UK brow kit which is about half the price! Not a necessity!

Soap and Glory Archery 2 in 1 Brow Sculpting Crayon and Setting Gel in the shade Brown and Out £10

This is the newest addition to the Soap and Glory brow family and one I’ve been testing out over the last few weeks. The pencil end of this is a little different to the previous ones I've talked about as it is thicker and has a slanted tip a bit like the Sleek Brow Stylist if anyone has tried that. I've found this pencil to be not as pigmented as the 2 in 1 pencil and brush so again this pencil will be good for those wanting a natural look. The gel is quite crispy to touch when it's in my brows but doesn't look crispy at all and I really like the size of the brush, it sets them really well. Probably wouldn’t repurchase this one though!

Overall, Soap and Glory has everyone covered! If you are looking for a natural brow try the Archery brow tint and pencil or the 2 in 1 sculpting crayon and if you want a bit more pigmentation try the 2 in 1 pencil and brush or the D-I-Y brow bar! I’d give the Arch de Triumph pencil a miss though! Special mention to the Soap and Glory Lid Stuff Whats Nude quad which served as my brow powder of choice long before the D-I-Y kit came along! The shade Mudhoney is just the best!

Have you tried any of Soap and Glory’s brow offerings? If not, what’s your favourite brow product?

Boots/New in at the Drugstore Haul August 2015 #3

Hi everyone, I have a sneaky Boots haul for you all today! I saw a few weeks ago that Soap and Glory had released a few new products and Max Factor had a new foundation and lipstick range out that I wanted to try so I took advantage of the 3 for 2 offers and buy one get one half price and treated myself!

Here’s what I got:

Soap and Glory

Soap and Glory Original Pink Body Spray

I’m a big fan of the Original Pink fragrance so love the fact they have added a matching body spray to the line-up! However, I had this on me today and it didn’t last on my skin at all! I've spoken about my love for the Mist you Madly body spray on my blog before and it lingers all day on me so I was really disappointed with this!

Soap and Glory Archery 2 in 1 Brow Sculpting Crayon and Setting Gel

I haven’t tried this out yet but I have high hopes for it if it’s anything like the other brow products Soap and Glory have! Embarrassingly I now own all their brow products, would anyone like a review and comparison post on them all? Let me know in the comments!

Soap and Glory One Heck of a Blot Instant Perfecting Power Primer

I got so excited when I saw Soap and Glory had started doing a primer! I haven’t tried this yet because I have a wedding this week so I’m trying not to use anything new on my face in case I break out but this will be cracked open next week for sure :)

Soap and Glory Sexy Mother Pucker GlossStick 3D Volume Lip Shine in Nudist and Technicoral

These are like the baby sisters of the original sexy mother pucker gloss sticks! As far as I can tell, there is a lot less product in these which doesn’t bother me because I doubt I will ever finish off the originals anyway! These also come without the infamous tingle some Soap and Glory lip products have! They give a lovely wash of colour and shine and feel really moisturising on my lips! I want the other colours now!

Max Factor

Max Factor Miracle Match Foundation in Warm Almond

I saw this on Really Ree’s blog a while back and just really liked the look of it so ordered it! I used to love their Miracle Touch foundation but thought it was quite dear and I went through it quite quickly. Again, I haven’t tried this in case it breaks me out – I swear I’m so paranoid!

Max Factor Lipfinity Longlasting Lipstick in Evermore Lush

Again I think I saw this on Ree’s blog and as it was 3 for 2 I picked it up to try it! It’s a gorgeous berry colour and although it claims to last up to 8 hours I can’t see this being the case! I tried it out today and it was really easy to apply and felt quite moisturising. With lipsticks like this that are a little darker than I would usually apply, I rub them in with my finger to stain my lips a little more so I don’t have to worry as much about transfer! I noticed there was a little glitter in the lipstick but it wasn’t too obvious!

Max Factor Crème Puff Blush in Nude Mauve

This is my third Crème Puff Blush now and I absolutely love them! The give such a subtle healthy glow to the skin they are gorgeous! While it’s easy to go overboard with some blush I think these are absolutely failsafe and everyone should have at least one!

Collection

Collection Crème Puff Lip Cream in Fairy Cake

I've seen this in a few of Alix’s videos and it looks gorgeous so I finally bought it! I love her blog and channel and think she has such good recommendations! This is such a bright corally pinky colour and the formula is really easy to work with! Even though its matte it feels quite moisturising. I can’t say much for lasting power yet as I literally just tried it on to see how it looked but for £2.99 you can’t go wrong!

There we go, a slightly blogger influenced haul! See my previous Boots/Drugstore Hauls here and here! Have you treated yourself lately?

Stuff I'm trying to use up #1

So, I have a lot of makeup. Before I start buying/opening more there are a few things I want to get finished up, either because I don’t overly like them anymore or I’m starting to feel I’ve had them for a long time. Really need to start writing opening dates on my stuff… 

Revlon Photoready Powder

I used to love this powder but it doesn’t mattify my foundation enough and I look shiny two hours after applying now. It has a subtle glitter/sparkle running through it and looks good when it’s just been applied but I’ve become so disappointed with its staying powder. I want to get it finished up but I won’t be repurchasing.

                                                                                                              

Max Factor Clump Defy Volumising Mascara in Black Waterproof

This and the Max Factor False Lash Effect mascara are my favourite mascaras and I have so many backups in my drawer at the minute because I always buy them when they are on offer. I feel like I have been using this for AGES and it is still not finished/ dried up. It makes my lashes volumised, lengthened and super black and has a curved wand so I like to so my first coat with the “thin” end then second coat with the “fat” end. This doesn’t flake or transfer on me

Maybelline Volume Express The Colossal Mascara in Black Waterproof

I’m a big fan of this mascara too and this one is definitely starting to dry up slightly now! Again I find it builds up both length and volume in my lashes with two coats and makes them look nice and defined. Again it doesn’t flake or transfer on me either unlike some waterproof mascaras I have tried on the past.

Max Factor Mastertouch Concealer

I’ve gone through loads of these concealers over the years and think this will be the last time I repurchase. They have a small colour selection I think of three colours so it can be hard to match to skin tone and I find the coverage with this is not as good as some other concealers I have. It has a twist up wand to release the concealer and I know some people won’t like the sponge applicator but I don’t mind it.

Soap and Glory Archery 2-in-1 Brow Filling Pencil and Brush

I’m a huge fan of Soap and Glory makeup and have owned the original Archery pencil that has the marker pen at one end as well as this. The little spoolie on the end is lovely and sturdy for brushing through brows and the pencil (I have the brown shade) is very thin and perfect for making brow strokes. I do really like this pencil but I also have the Soap and Glory D-I-Y Brow Bar kit and I prefer the finish of powders so I want to get this used up! I’ve also heard it’s meant to be a dupe for the Anastasia Brow Wiz but I haven’t tried it! 

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer

I don’t really get the fuss with this concealer that seems to be everyone’s holy grail. I don’t mind it but I have better concealers so I want to finish it up. I don’t use this under the eyes, I really only use it for blemishes and use it to cover any I have up before following with foundation. It is however great of you are on a budget!

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Lovers Coral

I never thought I would get this far down in a lipstick but I love this one! It gives such a lovely shiny peachy pink tint to the lips and really brightens up my face. I already have a backup of this waiting to go it’s my favourite lipstick!